State of Origin 2015: Aaron Woods says he’s stopped over thinking his part in Origin

AARON Woods has revealed his “brain would go one million miles an hour” before State of Origin games. He was simply too “full on”.

NSW's prop Aaron Woods during training at Pacific Bay Resort Coffs Harbour .Gregg Porteous

AARON Woods has revealed his “brain would go one million miles an hour” before State of Origin games. He was simply too “full on”.

Something had to give.

“I used to be that flat come game day in Origin that I couldn’t believe it. I was always thinking about the game, what I had to do here and what am I in for? What do I have to do?’’ Woods said.

“I didn’t think that footy could consume you so much but it did. I used to think that I didn’t want to let the team down. Shit, my brain was going a million miles an hour when I was laying in bed.

Aaron Woods and Sarah Callaway. Pic Gregg Porteous

“I should have been relaxing but I was wasting so much energy worrying about. Come game day I used to be pretty flat. I thought about footy too much during the week. After every game, if I went only went okay, I would be filthy and short at home. I was overdoing my thinking all the time. Now I try to get away from footy as much as I can.”

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And Woods’ partner Sarah Callaway has played a key role in his transformation.

A more relaxed and calm Woods will lead NSW into State of Origin I at ANZ Stadium next Wednesday night.

“I am one really relaxed person since 2013,” Woods said. “When I am at home I chill out with my dog, my missus has been good to me too. She takes me away from it. She knows I can become too full-on. I love footy and am a full-on type of person.

“She told me there’s more to life and to pull my head in.

“Up here in Coffs (in camp with NSW) you can get away. I think: ‘There’s another 20 minutes where I haven’t thought the game’ whereas before you would be talking to people in Sydney about the game for 20 minutes. It’s about being honest. There’s no point living in the past. You have to move on from things.”

Woods’ NRL stats this year with Wests Tigers have been amazing compared to his Origin numbers.

He explains: “I’ve got a different role in Origin. With Wests Tigers, I’m playing a lot more minutes, an extra 30 minutes. With Origin, we have a role where we have to stick to our shape and sometimes our big boys don’t always do all the work.

“Last year we did a lot of ‘out-the-back’ plays. In saying that, I’ve got to get the ball and punch up forward.”

In the opening two Origin games last year, Woods only played a combined total of 50 minutes.

Tigers legend Steve Roach added: “He is a champion player and a guy I reckon will soon look to become a leader. He’s a real leader, you watch. He just goes about his business. At Wests Tigers, he does three times the work of anyone else but you share it around more in Origin because everyone wants the ball.”

Originally published as State of Origin 2015: Aaron Woods says he’s stopped over thinking his part in Origin